Twitter Suspends Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s Account

Last week Twitter suspended Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s account after he posted a string of “offensive” tweets, especially against women.

The move by the microblogging site came after social media users accused the 58-year-old singer of using “inappropriate” and “insulting” language.

“Account Suspended: This account has been suspended…,” stated the message from Twitter on his handle.

The singer had received flak on the social media site for a series of inflammatory tweets against journalist Swati Chaturvedi, who had registered a police complaint against him last year in July.

The complaint led to his arrest. On being released on bail, the singer reportedly broke into tears.

The regret didn’t last long, for the defiant singer later said he would repeat his words if he wished to.

On May 22, Abhijeet spewed venom at some women Twitter users, including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student- activist Shehla Rashid, which prompted some of the netizens to lodge a complaint with Twitter.

“Sincere thanks to everyone for the support. Abhijeet had to delete his tweet. His Twitter account has also been suspended,” Shehla tweeted on Tuesday.

Abhijeet had previously retweeted about the JNU student, “There is rumour she took money for two hours and didn’t satisfy the client… big racket.”

In another tweet, he had insulted a woman Twitter user when she called him out for his incendiary tweets, where he wrote, “You Ms Pak. Tell me your cage no? Will reach there…

Will do the favourite pose.”

However, it is unclear if the decision taken by Twitter is temporary or permanent.

When contacted, Abhijeet told PTI, “Author Arundhati Roy and people supporting JNU” were behind the suspension of his account.

“Yes, I just saw it. They are trying to block Paresh Rawal also. All Arundhati and JNU group behind this after Paresh Rawal and I tweeted against Arundhati for her anti- India stand,” he said.

BJP MP-actor Paresh Rawal kicked up a row with his remark that author Roy should be tied to an army jeep instead of a stone pelter, a reference to an incident in Kashmir where a protester was used as a “human shield” by security personnel against a mob.

Asked if he would take any step to reinstate his Twitter handle, Abhijeet said, “I (don’t) care a damn… entire nation is with me.”

But the bizarre controversy didn’t end here. Singer Sonu Nigam has announced in 24 tweets posted this morning that he’s quitting Twitter, citing a lack of respect for freedom of speech. Everyone is entitled to their opinion argued Mr Nigam, 43, a day after his colleague Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s account was suspended for his abusive tweets against female Twitter users like Shehla Rashid, a JNU student and activist who has made allegations of sex trafficking by some BJP leaders. Sonu Nigam also referenced actor and BJP parliamentarian Paresh Rawal who has been lacerated online after tweeting that author Arundhati Roy should be ‘tied to army jeep.’ Mr Nigam said in his tweets that he is deleting his account because Twitter is ‘one-sided’ and ‘everyone is angry.’

Although there are mixed reactions on the social media about the issue, everyone seems to agree that the uproar was an exaggeration.

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